Diamond Star (52 page)

"Yes, please." Tyra sounded subdued. She had heard more of the internal strife in the Ruby Dynasty in the past few days than most people would ever know if they searched the interstellar meshes for every mention of the royal family they could find.

"Very well." Eldrin smiled at Del. "Be well, my brother."

"And you," Del said. "Always."

The screen went blank, then cleared to show a man with iron-grey hair in a blue uniform.

Tyra reported to the admiral. Barzun wasn't happy, to put it mildly. He didn't have the authority to make Del leave Earth, but Del agreed to cooperate with whatever other precautions they wanted, knowing that if he didn't, Kelric would have him hauled back home.

Of course he promised not to accept any contract from Tarex. Del would have rather cut off his nose than license his work to an Aristo. He knew it would mean a big loss in potential revenue to Prime-Nova, and he hated that he was going to look unprofessional, as if he had become arrogant with success. He could talk to General McLane about telling Zachary his real reasons, but ASC felt the same as ISC; the fewer people who knew the truth, the better.

The room's AI spoke. "Mister Arden's band wishes to enter."

Tyra signed off with Admiral Barzun and glanced at Del.

"It's okay," Del said.

As the door opened, Jud, Anne, and Randall spilled into the room, talking and holding drinks. Anne glanced around until she saw Cameron, then reddened and looked quickly away.

"Hey, Del!" Randall yelled, even though he was right there. He lifted his oversized glass of ouzo. "Why aren't you celebrating? It's a great party."

Jud's smile faded as he studied Del. "What's wrong?"

Del just shook his head.

"He had a fight with Zach," Anne said. "Ricki is smoothing things over."

Randall gave Del an incredulous look. "You argued with the tech-mech king on a night like this? Damn it, Del, we're flying as high as we can. Why fight with Zachary?"

"He wants me to sell our work to the Aristos," Del said.

Randall's alcohol-flushed face turned redder. "It's not just your decision."

"Wait." Jud came up to Del and spoke in a low voice. "I heard an Aristo was here."

"I met him." Del winced. "And I panicked."

"Panicked?" Anne asked. She and Randall joined them. "Why?"

"Del, come on," Randall said. "Don't screw this up. Eube is a
huge
market. Man, we could outshine a screaming nova."

"Randall, don't," Jud said. "He's an empath. He can't be around Aristos."

"Oh, cut the crap." Randall downed his drink, then spun around and stalked away from them. Pivoting back, he spoke furiously to Del. "Whenever you screw up, you pull this 'I'm so sensitive' shit. It isn't just about you. Can't you stop thinking about your own damn problems and remember that four of us are involved in this?"

Randall sounded so much like Kelric, Del wanted to sock him in the face. Another thought came from deeper inside: maybe everyone was right, he was nothing more than overwrought and immature, and he didn't deserve this success. He knew this much; he didn't want to ruin things for his band.

Jud spoke sharply to Randall. "That's enough."

"You let him get away with this garbage." Randall hit at the air with his glass, his fist clenched around it. "Maybe if you quit coddling him, he wouldn't be such a high-strung baby."

"Shut up!" Cameron said.

Everyone gaped at the guard.

"Leave him the fuck alone," Cameron told Randall.

"Great," Randall said. "Now your babysitter is mouthing off."

"Del." Tyra spoke awkwardly. "Staver wants to know if he can come in."

"Staver?" Randall's face turned a deeper red. "You better not have pissed him off, too."

"He's the one who warned me about Tarex," Del said tightly.

Anne walked over to Cameron. "Is everything okay?"

"Fine." Cameron kept his face impassive, but his jitters at seeing Anne leaked out of his mind. He glanced at Del. "Shall I let him back in?"

Del nodded, flushed and uncomfortable. "Go ahead."

The door by Cameron opened, and Staver strode inside. He faltered when he saw everyone. Then he came over to Del. "Did you talk to your brother?"

"One of them," Del said.

Anne gave him a startled smile. "You have brothers?"

Del had no intention of talking about his family. "I need to leave," he said. "Go home."

Randall watched him in disbelief. "It's
your
party. Haven't you ticked Zachary off enough already? I can't believe you'd walk out after they went to all this trouble for you."

Del didn't want to antagonize Zachary, but he didn't know what to say. Someone in the party was using a spiker, and the smoke affected Del even here, leaving him dizzy.

"Can you get home all right?" Staver asked.

"No, I--I don't--" Del rubbed his temples. "My head hurts."

Randall gave him a disgusted look and talked in a falsetto. "Not tonight, dear. I have a headache."

"You're drunk, Randy," Anne said shortly. "Lay off."

"I'm sorry," Randall said. "But this always happens. Del, our livelihoods depend on your keeping it together. Here we are, on top of the stars. Don't take it away."

Del felt how much Randall feared he would ruin their success. Cameron and Tyra were waiting for Del to decide if he wanted to go home. Del couldn't answer. He needed his bliss-node.

A spark of anger jumped within him:
Are you going to run to a fantasy world every time things get a little tough? How much of your life will it devour before you've had enough?

Cameron joined them and spoke to Del. "I can bring your racer around to the front of the hotel."

"No." Del took a breath. "I'll stay." He went to the bed and lay on his back with his arm over his eyes. "Just give me a few minutes. Alone."

After a pause, Jud said, "We'll be outside."

Del listened to them leave. When it was quiet, he lowered his arm and saw Cameron posted by the wall. Tyra was still standing by the console, watching someone near Del. Staver. The Skolian man had stayed, slumped in the chair, his face pale.

"I can't go out there," Staver said when Del looked at him.

Del nodded. "You should stay."

They fell silent, and Del closed his eyes. After a while, he began to calm down. The spikers left him sleepy and nauseous.

Eventually Staver spoke. "Why did he call you Del's babysitter?"

Del opened his eyes. Staver was watching Cameron, who stared back, impassive. Knowing Cameron wouldn't answer, Del pulled himself up and sat against the wall at the head of the bed. "Cameron keeps people away. I can't go alone in public anymore."

Staver glanced from Cameron to Tyra. "Two bodyguards?"

"It used to be one, before Raker and Delilah." Del felt Staver's mental knock. Now that he had recovered some, he lowered his barriers. This time, though, he didn't cut out Tyra.

Does Tarex know you're a psion?
Del asked Staver.

I'm sure of it,
Staver answered.
He asked to meet me. And a woman with him offered to take me home. She was beautiful, but I wouldn't go anywhere with someone from an Aristo's retinue.

Del shuddered.
Never.

I knew Tarex was on Earth,
Staver thought.
Some people want to help a provider he brought. A lot of security surrounds her. To break it--let's just say it requires specialists outside usual channels. Help like that costs more than my friends can afford.

But I can,
Del thought.

So you claim.
Staver didn't say more, though. They might wonder if Del really had the funds, but if their background checks had found anything they considered suspicious about him, this exchange would never have taken place.

Del hid his Skolian identity from Staver with defenses he had spent a lifetime learning to build. He could tell Staver believed him to be Del Arden of Earth. Had Staver known the truth about Del, he might have shielded that knowledge from a less powerful psion, but concealing it from Del was impossible when Del lowered his barriers. He would sense the conflict in Staver's mind.

I'll let you know,
Del thought. He hadn't finished checking out Staver.
Be careful. Tarex might use the provider to trap you.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated,
Staver said.
And believe me, I'll stay clear of Tarex.

Good.
Del raised his barriers, strained by their link, and his sense of Staver faded. When he glanced at Tyra, she nodded, letting him know she had followed the exchange.

The room's AI said, "Ricki Varento is here."

"Let her in," Del said.

As soon as the door opened, Ricki came over to Del. She spared a puzzled glance for Staver, but didn't ask him to leave.

"How upset is Zachary?" Del asked.

"Keyed up and beyond." Ricki sat on the bed. "He told Tarex that touring had worn you out." She looked ready to punch someone. "Tarex didn't care, not after I told him what you said about his 'magnificence.' He reacted exactly like you predicted. Asshole."

Del grimaced. "That's probably what Zachary thinks about me."

"He's not happy." She glanced at Staver. "Do you have a bodyguard here?"

He shook his head. "I had no reason to think I'd need one."

Tyra came over to them. "Staver, you can't leave by yourself. Tarex knows about you."

Ricki gave her an incredulous look. "Tarex wouldn't threaten a major exec from one of the most powerful Skolian conglomerates."

"For a psion as strong as Staver?" Del spoke grimly. "Tarex would probably consider him worth anything." The Aristo probably thought Staver had a higher Kyle rating than Del. Although Staver's personal info wasn't public, it would be far easier to find than Del's ISC-controlled records.

Del doubted Tarex realized Tyra was a psion. Although strong, her mind was less powerful than what the Aristo would sense from Del or Staver. More important, as a Jagernaut she had the most in-depth psi training ISC offered. She could pick up strategies from Tarex without giving herself away, and she would recognize anyone with enough Aristo heritage to endanger an empath. She was also a human weapon; with her augmented strength and speed, and internal mesh systems, she could probably outfight even the best of Tarex's guards. Which was great for Del, but didn't help Staver.

"Staver needs a permanent bodyguard," Del told Ricki.

"I'll take care of it." She turned to Staver. "We've plenty of rooms here. You can stay. Or my people can escort you home."

"Why would you do all this for me?" Staver asked.

She tilted her head toward Del. "He says it's important. I trust his judgment."

"I'd like to leave, then." Staver spoke quietly. "And thank you."

Ricki nodded to him, then glanced at Del. "Would you like to go upstairs? The suite there is yours tonight if you want it."

Del knew she was offering him a cover story in case anyone wondered why he disappeared at his own party. If he withdrew with a "friend" to Prime-Nova's love nest, it wouldn't raise eyebrows. Knowing Ricki's crowd, no one would even wonder why Tyra and Cameron went with them. They would assume--well, he didn't want to imagine what they would assume.

He managed a wan smile. "Come with me?"

"Sure, babe." She took his hand. "Will you be all right?"

"I'll be great."

It wasn't true. He still had to talk to Kelric. He was here only on the sufferance of his brother and General McLane; no matter how much he resented it, they controlled his life. Despite what Kelric believed, Del had no intention of damaging relations between his people and the Allieds, which meant if Kelric ordered him home, Del would leave. Everything he had achieved would be over, and he would return to a life he couldn't bear.

XXII: Headliner

The comm message came from Philip Chandler, the doctor who had checked Del after his first convulsion:
Mister Arden, please contact me as soon as possible.

Del stood at the console in his apartment and listened to the message three times. It didn't improve with repetition. Nearly a year had passed since he had seen Chandler, and he had forgotten about the doctor's concerns. Since the party a few days ago, Del's main worry had been avoiding Tarex and any deals he might offer Prime-Nova.

Jud was leaning against the wall. "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know." In Del's experience, when a doctor commed you with no warning, it meant trouble. "Maybe I shouldn't call back."

"Yeah, right," Jud said. "And maybe you should go jump off the Star Tower, too."

Del scowled at him. "Ha, ha."

"Comm him."

Del gritted his teeth, but he did sit at the console. "Claude, can you put me through to Doctor Chandler?"

"Yes. One moment, please."

"I'll just get his AI," Del told Jud. Doctors never responded in person. "I'll leave a message." Then he could put the whole thing out of his mind.

"I have his office," Claude said.

"Del Arden?" a man asked. "Is that you?"

Damn. That was no AI. "Hi, Doctor Chandler. Yes, it's me."

"Can we go visual?" Chandler asked.

"Sure." As Del spoke, his screen cleared to show Philip Chandler seated at what looked like an oakwood console.

"Thanks for getting back to me so soon," Chandler said. "I was worried."

That wasn't what Del wanted to hear. "What's wrong?"

"I've been in contact with the Skolian Embassy in D.C.," he said. "It took a lot of back and forth, but I've finally spoken with a Skolian expert on the neuroscience of empaths. From what she told me, it sounds like that convulsion you suffered may have been more serious than our tests showed."

Del wanted to push away the words. "I'm fine, Doctor Chandler. Really. I haven't had any problems."

Although the physician looked sympathetic, he didn't relent. "A psion's brain produces specialized neurotransmitters. The higher your Kyle rating, the more you produce. In a live show, your brain goes into overdrive trying to deal with the empathic input from your audience and releases an excess of the Kyle transmitters. Too many of your neurons fire at once. If it overloads your brain, you have a convulsion. I didn't register anything when I tested you because my equipment can't detect Kyle-active transmitters."